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Family Jewellers of Birmingham FOR OVER 40 YEARS - Book Appointment | WhatsApp
Family Jewellers of Birmingham FOR OVER 40 YEARS - Book Appointment | WhatsApp
By the time most couples get round to thinking seriously about wedding rings, the rest of the wedding budget has often taken shape. The venue is booked, the photographer is confirmed, and the flowers are chosen. Then someone asks about the rings, and a small amount of anxiety sets in.
The cost of wedding rings in the UK typically ranges from £300 to £1,500+ per ring.
We see this regularly at our workshop in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter. A couple comes in a few months before the wedding, slightly concerned that a beautiful ring at a sensible price is somehow out of reach. It almost always is not. At Manna, our plain wedding bands start from £372, and are handcrafted, hallmarked, and made in our workshop on Hockley Street. You can browse the full wedding ring collection while this guide walks through everything that affects the price.
Four things drive the cost of a wedding ring: the metal it is made from, the width and weight of the band, the design complexity, and whether diamonds or gemstones are included. Change any one of these, and the price shifts meaningfully. Understanding them gives you real control over the budget rather than guessing from catalogues.
Average Cost of Wedding Rings in the UK
| Type of Ring | Typical Price (Per Ring) |
|---|---|
| 9ct Gold (Plain) | £300 – £500 |
| 18ct Gold | £500 – £900 |
| Platinum | £800 – £1,500+ |
| Diamond Bands | £700 – £2,000+ |
| Bespoke Rings | £600 – £2,500+ |
At Manna Jewellers in Birmingham, handcrafted wedding rings start from £372.
The metal you choose has more influence on price than almost anything else. In the UK, wedding rings are made in four main precious metals: 9ct gold, 18ct gold, platinum, and white gold. The differences between them matter both for price and for long-term wear.
9ct yellow, white, or rose gold contains 37.5% pure gold by weight. It is the most affordable precious metal option, harder than 18ct, and a genuinely practical choice for everyday wear. At Manna, our budget wedding rings in plain 9ct gold start from £372, a real entry point for a handcrafted piece made in Birmingham.
Explore Rose Gold Wedding Rings Collection
18ct gold contains 75% pure gold and has a richer colour and lustre. It is the traditional choice for wedding jewellery in the UK. For equivalent designs, it costs more than 9ct, which reflects the higher gold content rather than any difference in craftsmanship.
Explore Gold Wedding Rings Collection
Platinum is the most durable naturally white precious metal. It is heavier than gold, resistant to wear over decades of daily use, and develops a soft patina over time rather than wearing thin. It costs more than 18ct gold but requires less maintenance long-term. It is also naturally hypoallergenic, which matters for people with sensitive skin.
Explore Platinum Rings Collection
White gold is a yellow gold alloy rhodium-plated to achieve its silver tone. It costs less than platinum and looks very similar. The plating wears over time and needs refreshing every few years, which is a minor ongoing cost worth factoring in.
Explore White Gold Wedding Rings Collection
Browse the full range: our wedding ring collection is available in 9ct and 18ct yellow gold, white gold, rose gold, and platinum.
Within the same metal, width and weight are the next biggest variables. A 6mm band uses more metal than a 4mm band, meaningfully. A heavyweight ring uses more than a lightweight one at the same width. More metal straightforwardly means a higher cost.
This gives you real, practical control. If you love the look of a D-shaped band but want to keep the price down, choosing a 4mm lightweight version rather than a 6mm heavyweight one in the same metal can make a significant difference without changing the overall style.
Most men's wedding rings sit between 4mm and 8mm wide. Women's rings tend to be narrower, typically 2mm to 4mm, which is partly why women's plain bands often cost less than men's equivalent styles.
Looking at men's options specifically? Our men's wedding rings are available from £372 in 9ct gold, across every width, weight, and metal, all handcrafted at our Birmingham workshop.
A plain wedding band is the most affordable style and, for many people, the most fitting. Simple, timeless, and built to last, a plain court or D-shape band in 9ct gold will look exactly as good in thirty years as it does on your wedding day. There is nothing compromised about it.
Diamond wedding bands cost more because you are paying for the stones as well as the metal. The more diamonds, the larger they are, and the greater the coverage around the band, the higher the price.
If you want some sparkle on a budget, a half eternity style is the most practical approach. Diamonds run across the visible top of the band, while the underside is plain metal. You get the look of a diamond ring at a lower cost than a full eternity, and it tends to be more comfortable for daily wear because there are no stones on the inner edge.
For couples who want a diamond band but have a set budget, lab-grown diamonds are worth discussing. They are chemically and physically identical to mined diamonds the only difference is origin. A lab-grown diamond of equivalent cut, clarity, and carat weight typically costs considerably less. At Manna, we can advise on this during a consultation.
Browse our diamond wedding band and eternity ring collection, including half eternity and offset diamond styles in gold and platinum.
If you are working with a tight budget, a plain band in 9ct gold is a very good place to start. At Manna, plain wedding bands begin at £372. That is not a discounted or entry-level it is a ring that is genuinely handcrafted in Birmingham, hand-finished, hallmarked at the Birmingham Assay Office, and presented in our ring box.
According to Bridebook's 2026 Wedding Report, the average UK couple spends around £1,057 on wedding rings combined. Manna's starting price for a handcrafted, hallmarked plain band sits well below that, which means there is real room to get both rings within or close to that national average.
A few decisions that keep costs at the lower end without sacrificing quality:
Choose 9ct gold over 18ct or platinum. The look is very similar; the price difference is real.
Go narrower and lighter. A 4mm band rather than a 6mm or 8mm makes a meaningful difference in price.
Choose a plain profile court, D-shape, or flat rather than a diamond-set style.
Consider whether you need both rings at once or can stagger the purchase.
Think about engraving rather than diamonds for personalisation. A date or initials on the inside of a plain band costs a fraction of what a diamond-set style would, and it's entirely personal. Find out more on our engraving page.
This is worth saying directly. The idea that you should spend a set proportion of your salary on a ring was a marketing invention, specifically a De Beers campaign from the 1930s, applied to engagement rings and then extended by various retailers to wedding bands over the decades.
There is no tradition behind it. There is no obligation attached to it. The right amount to spend on a budget wedding ring or any wedding ring is whatever amount suits your financial situation and produces a ring you genuinely want to wear every day.
The most meaningful wedding ring is not the most expensive one. It is the one you chose with care and will keep wearing for the rest of your life.
The mid-range for wedding rings in the UK typically falls between £500 and £1000 per ring. This is where most couples buying from independent jewellers and specialist wedding ring makers end up, and it is where the range of styles opens up considerably.
At this level, 18ct gold becomes accessible in your chosen colour. Wider and heavier bands are available. Plain styles with added engraving or textured finishes are well within range. Lighter diamond-set options are also within reach.
For those wanting something with more character, our Men's Bevelled Wedding Ring with its chamfered edge and flat top profile offers a more contemporary look from £974 in 9ct gold. It suits the groom who wants something a step removed from the standard round band.
Not sure which profile suits you? Book a Wedding Ring consultation at our Jewellery Quarter showroom in Birmingham and try different styles in person before deciding.
Spending more on a wedding ring does not mean being extravagant. Platinum, wider diamond bands, and fully custom designs sit at the higher end because they use more expensive materials and involve more complex work.
Platinum rings use more metal by weight than gold equivalents. Diamond-set bands require the cost of the stones, the setting, and the metal. Bespoke designs require dedicated design time alongside the craftsmanship.
For couples who want something completely personal, a ring shaped specifically to sit against their engagement ring, a design that incorporates family gold, or a profile that does not exist in our standard range, our bespoke design service delivers exactly that. You pay for what you want, and nothing you do not.
Generally, yes, sometimes significantly so.
Engagement rings carry the cost of a centre stone. A diamond solitaire, halo, or trilogy ring is priced largely around the diamond itself, which usually accounts for most of the total cost. The band is secondary to that.
Wedding rings do not have that cost structure. You are paying for metal, craftsmanship, and any accent diamonds or detailing. Even a beautifully made wedding ring in 18ct gold or platinum can be considerably more affordable than the engagement ring it sits beside.
For a fuller picture of how these two rings differ in meaning and design, our guide on wedding rings versus engagement rings provides a detailed comparison.
It seems counterintuitive. Bespoke sounds expensive. In practice, it is often not.
When you commission a custom wedding ring at Manna, you control every decision: the metal, the width, the profile, the weight. You pay for exactly what you want. There is no brand premium, no off-the-shelf pricing structure that does not quite fit your needs, and no unnecessary complexity added because it already existed in a standard design.
For couples who want something specific, a width that is not in our standard range, a profile designed to sit flush against an unusual engagement ring, or a ring incorporating family gold the bespoke route is often the most cost-effective path to getting exactly the right thing.
You are also speaking directly with the craftspeople who will make it. They can advise on where to make savings, what substitutions keep the look you want while managing cost, and what is genuinely worth spending more on.
The process from consultation to a finished ring typically takes about 6 weeks. If you are working to a wedding date, tell us early, and we will plan around it. Start here:bespoke ring design service.
Most couples who come to us do not realise this is possible until we mention it.
If you have old gold jewellery sitting in a drawer, a parent's chain, a grandparent's ring, pieces that no longer suit anyone, then that gold has real value. We take it in, assess it, and use it as the raw material for a new wedding ring. Because you are not buying new metal from scratch, the cost of the metal is reduced. Depending on how much gold you have and the ring you want, the savings can be meaningful.
There is something beyond the financial side, too. When your wedding ring is made from gold that came from your family, it carries history that a brand-new piece of metal simply cannot replicate. The design is entirely new. The material is something that already belonged to your family.
Have old gold you would like to use? Visit our Jewellery Quarter showroom and bring the pieces in. We will assess what you have and walk you through what is possible. You can also find out more about our jewellery remodelling service.
One practical consideration that budget guides rarely mention: full eternity rings cannot be resized. Because the stones run all the way around the band, there is no plain section of metal to work with. If you are considering a full eternity ring as your wedding band, size carefully and allow for finger size to change slightly over time.
Half eternity rings with stones covering only the visible portion, and the plain underside can be resized. For budget buyers who want diamonds without the commitment of sizing, a half eternity is usually the better practical choice.
There is no fixed rule. The old convention held that each partner bought the other's ring. Most couples today treat it as a shared decision and a joint cost.
At Manna, we notice that most couples who come in for wedding rings buy both at the same appointment. It is simply more practical: you can compare how the rings look together, agree on the budget in one conversation, and ensure the two rings feel cohesive as a pair. If budget wedding rings are the priority, buying both together also makes it easier to compare how plain, lighter options look side by side.
Every ring sold at Manna is hallmarked at the Birmingham Assay Office. For budget buyers in particular, the hallmark is your assurance of metal purity. It is not a branding exercise; it is a legal verification that the metal in the ring is exactly what the jeweller says it is.
When you see a hallmark, you know the 9ct gold band is 9ct gold. When you are buying a budget wedding ring, that assurance matters. Not all rings sold online or at market prices are hallmarked or made from genuine precious metal. Every ring from our workshop is.
The Birmingham Assay Office is one of the oldest and most respected hallmarking authorities in the world. We are proud to work with it, and proud that it is a few minutes from our workshop. Learn more about our home on our Birmingham Jewellery Quarter page.
Prices vary depending on the metal, width, and design. According to Bridebook's 2026 Wedding Report, UK couples spend around £1,057 combined on average. At Manna Jewellers, plain wedding bands in 9ct gold start from £372, handcrafted, hallmarked, and made in Birmingham. Mid-range rings in 9ct to 18ct gold typically cost between £400 and £900 each. Platinum rings, diamond-set bands, and bespoke designs vary further based on the brief and materials.
There is no rule. The old salary-based guidelines were marketing inventions and have no basis in tradition. A budget wedding ring in 9ct gold at a few hundred pounds is a perfectly appropriate choice. So is a platinum band at twice or three times that. Spend what makes sense for your financial situation and produces a ring you genuinely want to wear every day.
9ct gold is the most affordable precious metal option for a wedding ring in the UK. It contains less gold by weight than 18ct, making it less expensive while still being a genuine hallmarked precious metal.
Yes. A wider, heavier ring uses more metal, which directly increases the cost. Choosing a narrower band at a lighter weight can reduce the price while keeping the same profile and style.
Yes. At Manna Jewellers, we take in old gold jewellery and use it as the base material for a new wedding ring. This reduces the cost of the metal and adds a personal dimension to the piece. Book a consultation or You canVisit Our Jewellery Quarter showroom to find out more.
Not always. A bespoke ring means you control every decision, including where to make savings. Using old gold, choosing specific metals and widths, and keeping the design clean can make a custom ring competitive with, or even cheaper than, comparable off-the-shelf options.
No. Because stones run all the way around the band, there is no plain metal section to work with for resizing. If this concerns you, a half eternity ring is a more practical choice. It has diamonds only on the visible portion, and the plain underside can be resized if needed.
At Manna, bespoke wedding rings are typically ready within six weeks. If you have a specific wedding date in mind, let us know at the consultation, and we will plan the timeline around it. Start the process on our bespoke design page.
For most couples, yes. Buying both at the same appointment means you can compare how they look together, agree on the budget in one conversation, and ensure the pair feels cohesive. Some jewellers also offer a small saving when both rings are purchased together.
